While I’m waiting for my Wingnuts kits to appear on the doorstep (Or Swedish Customs), I’ll keep busy doing a bit of an austrian job... This will be a Roden conversion with bits of Battleaxe thrown in to make an OEFFAG Albatros DIII 153 with the round nose.


Ever since I first saw the Austrian Albatros I knew I wanted to model one – preferably the roundnosed 153/253 version – but no kit existed in 1:32 – that was until Battle Axe released one. Well that was not improving the situation much – having built two of their offerings (the DVII and the EV/DVIII) I was very familiar with what horrors lurked in the box.

But when Hannants had a clearout of this one, curiosity got the best of me... In the back of my mind I thoght I might be able to use most of the kit, and throw some spare Roden bits in, like I had on the EV/DVIII.

What horrible mis-shaped chunks of plastic lurks within? Oh, the humanity!



The box contents was even more dissapointing than I first thought. Apart from being badly molded, it proved incorrect in several places, and in bits very overly simplyfied. I closed the box and forgot about it.

Then I got another Roden Albatros DIII kit on the cheap side at the IPMS show here in Göteborg last atumn. A plan formed to convert this one into the coveted late Austrian DIII 153 using what bits I could from Battle Axe.



So, there you have it, my first build blog on the forum, or more precisely first build blog anywhere for that matter.

Till next time, thank you for watching.

Mikael

Go for broke Mikael.

Hi Mikael: I will be following this one with keen interest. I like the Austro Hungarian Albatros a/c, I just don't want to pop for the Battleaxe kit.

Good Luck
CHeers

Model On! Please!

Mikael,
I'll following this thread with great interest. This going to be one fantastic project my friend.
Here's a link you may find of use in this new project.

http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=26131

Regards,
Gregory Jouette

I agree , this will be truly fascinating build to watch .

Thank you all for the encouraging words – I shall try not to disapoint (slight feeling of stagefright looming )

Gregory – Thank you for the link, very interesting, thogh I can't see any of images – but from what I can read, it seems he did a great job on a difficult conversion – we'll see how a roundnose will compare. I'am hopng for a slightly more comfortable ride than he seemed to have had

Mark – paying anything more than almost nothing for this Battle Axe kit is not worth the money in my opinion. After doing some thinking and fiddling about, I'll be using very little from that box. I seriously doubt that it is possible to make something even half decent from that kit alone...

While you're waiting – I did mention doing a kitbash using Roden parts in the B.A. Fokker DVIII/EV – well here it is, (Sticklers for authentic paintjobs close your eyes now).





I did it a few years ago, but I am still pleased with it, even though I now now (Thanks to Stephen) that Theo Osterkamp probably never flew any EV painted like this during the war...

Til next time – Thank you for watching

Mikael

Mikael,
Sorry I forgot to mention that you'll need to register to see the photos at LSP. Excellent Fokker E.V/D.VIII my friend. I'm slowly working on a similar project myself converting Revell's Old Fokker Dr.I into an E.V/D.VIII in 1/28 scale. Even through the yellow and black scheme is doubtful whether Osterkamp flew an E.V in this scheme or not I'll be painting my E.V the same scheme.

Looking forward to your next update.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

After trial fittings and scratching my head, trying to forsee the consequences forward, I have now identified witch bits to use from the B.A. box. Originally I wanted to use the complete fuselage and put the modified Roden interior inside – then using the Roden wings (The engineering of the wings in the B.A. is quite awful and it would be very hard work to make them look good)

But, the fuselage is cast very, very, very thick, and makes it hard (impossible?) to use the Roden bulkheads, so instead I will saw of the nose, and graft it onto the Roden fuselage – Note butchers saw...



I will have to work on it though, as I think the nose is a bit to ”low” – the blast tubes are supposed to rest on the lip of the nose, and the engine should not show as much above the engine panels as it does in the B.A. instructions.


Apart from the Nose I’ll be using:

The engine (resin). This looks quite good, but the shape of the engine bearers appear wrong, I don’t think I’ll change this though. I will ad wires, tubes and some other ancillaries.

The gunstocks. Yes only the stocks, as there are no barrels in the kit. Instead there is a solid block of resin that represents the barrels, and part of the upper decking. You stick the stocks in one end, and blast tubes (which you have to source yourself) in the other... For a model + $100 I would expect barrels – lucky I got it half price then...

The ammobox. I,ll have to saw this off the very thick and rough B.A. firewall.

The Stick, throttle and preasure pump from the cockpit. Other bits here are either wrong or not there.

P.E. There is a lot of brass in the kit, some will be useful for detailing, both in and out. (there is even a pair of german MG jackets – these will come in handy on my Albtaros DI build – thank you very much!)

Thats about it really, the rest will have to be adapted and scratched from the Roden box.


Scratchbuilding and trialfitting the modified firewall, and testing the nose with the engine. You can also see the scratched gas tank resting at the bottom of the firewall.



Scratchbuilding bits for the cockpit – instrumnet panels, gun barrels etc.



First coat of acryllic paint on bulkhead and chair (the solidbacked one is for my albatros DI). Oilpainting to follow.

By the way my sources for research of this subject, if anybody wonders is foremost the fantastic replica builds of Koloman Mayrhofer:
http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Ger/Alb_DIII_OFFAG/index.html
The Squadron Signal book – Albatros fighters in action and Albtraos D.II & DIII Oeffag by Mgr Peter Aharon from JAPO + various bits, and builds from the net.

Till next time, thank you for watching.

Mikael

Hi Gregory: I saw this in an issue of FSM awhile back. I was always going to do it. Do you have any pictures up of your progress? I think you needed two kits too?

Take care

Mark

It looks like you are making some progress. You have chosen an interesting conversion project. Maybe some of the after market guru's watching this could come up with the pertinent pieces and some choice decals for a conversion. Maybe Squadron through their 'Encore' model line or Roden could just market one, as the Albatros is such a popular a/c with WWI aeroplane model enthusiasts.
Your in the spotlight now Mikeal, so use the stage fright to continue on. Remember, we are all watching!!!

Cheers

Mark

Very nice progress so far . Nice to hear you got the Battle Axe kit for half price , even then it's not worth that .

Nice job on the Fokker E.V / III . I do have this kit and plan on doing it after the Pfalz D.III is finished .

Mikael,
Excellent progress my friend.Thanks for the most useful link too,no doubt it will come in handy for a future project.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Here is a bit of fun from the Aeroscale Features tab.

Click here.

Good work on a difficult project!

Hello everybody, and thank you for all the encoraging words. I am progressing here with painting and various interior sub assemblies. Will post something as soon as I have done some more. So far I am really enjoying myself

Stephen – thanks for putting up the link, I had not seen these before, gave me a few more insights to the layout of things.

Mark – from your lips to the ears of Roden and Encore. I think Rodens DIII (and DI for that matter) are about 8/10ths to an Austrian job already. They also have the research done for thier 1:72 kits. I also think Encore quite easily could do a regular nosed 53/153 series, with about the same amount of work as thier other offerings...

Terri – You should definately give the EV a go. As I recall it, it was'nt very hard. I used all the main parts of the B.A. kit, and the the interior and struts, landing gear etc. from a Roden Fokker DVI. May not be entiery correct in detail thogh But my standards were not as high back then.

Gregory – do we se another austrian projecct on the horizon I agree with Mark, you should show your DRI to EV conversion – sounds like a really interesting and challenging build.

Best regards

Mikael

Hi all

Here’s an update – bits and pieces, now with paint on. The oilpants have dried and some of the subassemblies for the cockpit are in progress. There is more detailing to do, and more oil washes and highliting as well.


Basic cockpit with seat, and amobox on the firewall. I have gone for a rather blond look on the ply, in imitation of the Koloman replicas.


The engine and tank painted up and detalied. The tank is scrathced out of plasticard. I have added wires and tubes + some other bits and pieces. The dataplate is an Eduard item from the sparebox. I do like my engines to look a bit dirty and worn.


Cockpit bits and guns. Still some more detailing to do on the stick and pedals. The instrumentpanels were made using various PE from Copperstate and Eduard. I first painted the oils on the panels and let them dry, then adding all details.


Will hopefully be back with an update soon. Any feedback, positive or negative is greatly appreciated

Til next time – thank you for watching

Mikael

Love the engine!

Mikael,
Fantastic work my friends. Your interior detail are beatiful. Beyond a doubt the engine is the high point of this latest update. Outstanding ! I'm looking forward to the next update.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

He and Brad C. must be related. Excellent details!

Lookin Good Mikeal: I like the blonde tone to the wood. The engine looks like it has seen some use.

Cheers

Mark

Thank You all for the raving reviews, I really do like doing the interiors.

Stephen – to be mentioned in relation with Brad C is very high praise indeed – he is one of my favourite modellers of this forum (among many very talented builders). Not sure I'm quite up to his standards (yet) + he makes this look easy in 1:72 and 1:48 scale.

Have started on the home stretch of the interior now – will post more when I can.

Best Regards
Mikael

Very nice effect with the wood ! Excellent attention to the details as well , your engine looks super by the way .

Question on the seat though , this is the first time I have seen one with the lighting holes and looking through the Windsock I did not notice this . Was this common on Oeafag build Albatros ?

Hi Terri

Thank you for your kind comments, as you have probably guessed I really like doing engines. :-)

As for your question on the seat – I unfortunately don't have the datafile for the Austrian Albatros. But I am reliying heavily on the replica builds of Koloman Mayerhofen. According to him the OEFFAG product carried a lightended seat, with seatcushin only. Also the lapbelt ran trough the two holes on the side of the seat. In the book I do have acces to (Albtraos D.II & DIII Oeffag by Mgr Peter Aharon from JAPO) there is a shot on p. 17 of unfinished fuselages with a seat sitting behind them with large holes in the back and sides.

So the short answer to your question, is yes, it would seem to be common for the OEFFAG seat to look like this.

Best Regards
Mikael

P.S. how goes the Pfaltz?